ABSTRACT A limestone breccia and several bodies of shale and sandstone in Mississippian St. Louis Limestone were discovered in a quarry opened during the summer of 1959 in the SE NW sec. 15, T. 15 N., R. 4 W., Putnam County, Indiana. A small mass of sandy limestone conglomerate overlay part of the breccia. Nearly all these bodies have been removed in quarrying. The breccia and the shale-sandstone masses appear to have originated from two separate geologic processes which occurred at two different times. The origin of the breccia is in doubt because not enough critical evidence is available to prove conclusively any single origin. The authors believe, however, that the breccia probably is the product of a submarine rock slump during St. Louis time which was triggered by the tectonic activity that initiated early movements along the Mt. Carmel Fault. Other possible origins, such as solution of evaporites accompanied by collapse of overlying rock or formation of caves in a karst terrain followed by roof collapse, are not supported by the evidence observed. The shale-sandstone bodies are believed to be rocks of Pennsylvanian age which were deposited in caverns developed during the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian erosion interval. The limestone conglomerate probably is of the same age as the shale-sandstone bodies.


As more and more organizations adopt a services-orientation towards maintaining and managing their information technology (IT) infrastructure, IT service management emerge as an area of immense academic and practitioner interest. Service orientation to IT makes it imperative that some standard guidelines are developed to provide insights towards different forms of service design and delivery, contract structure, performance metrics, and their inter-relationships. In this context, this dissertation aims to address issues arising from demand heterogeneity and service interactions in provisioning IT infrastructure services. Demand heterogeneity refers to the fact that requests for the same service may have varying levels of significance across users and user groups. Service interaction arises due to the interdependence of different components included in a service package. Demand variation impacts the resource allocation and subsequent pricing decisions of the provider; whereas service interaction results in correlated performance measures, making performance evaluation difficult. A dynamic price-penalty scheme is proposed as an alternative to the traditional fixed-price service models as a response to demand variance. The second phase of the research aims to investigate the nature of the relationship between different incentive designs and performance measures, and their impact on provider's effort allocation and customer's use of performance measures.


This paper presents a methodology development and the results achieved in the process of establishing energy management system in the City of Kragujevac (Serbia) and in its public services. The paper is an overview of influential factors in the field of energy management, analyzing their impact on raising the energy efficiency of individual utility service and the city of Kragujevac, as a whole. The paper also presents the most interesting scientific and research projects realized in the cooperation of several actors which were coordinated by Regional Euro Energy Efficiency Center Kragujevac. The municipal companies together with the city administration are the direct beneficiaries of the results realized in the following areas:
‐ Development of energy management in municipalities and the establishment of energy planning at the local level;
‐ Improvement of municipal services by applying energy efficiency measures in public enterprises:
‐ "Energetika" (heating),
‐ "Cistoca" (communal waste management),
‐ "Vodovod i kanalizacija" (water and waste water management);
Promotion of ideas and projects realized in the field of energy management, environmental protection and sustainable development at the Festival of energy efficiency (starting from this year) held during the April.


The authors make the case that the vast majority of U.S. companies are being pushed overseas by more than just the desire for new markets, lower labor costs or greater efficiencies in sourcing. The United States? dysfunctional distribution system, they say, has been turned on its head as distributors have wrested control of the strategic prerogatives of manufacturers in order to capture a disproportionate share of the value of the supplying company?s products. Megadistributors like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Home Depot Inc. end up profiting at the expense of their vendors, and manufacturers earn little or nothing on the sale of their own products. The megadistributors not only control the delivery of their products to consumers but also wield tremendous power over their internal processes. Cut off from the ability to control distribution and sales, these manufacturers must chase the cheapest inputs, particularly labor, in order to generate adequate margins and maintain shareholder value. There is some hope: In high-growth emerging markets around the world, manufacturers still possess the ability to directly influence what happens to their products once they enter the distribution chain, but, warn the authors, this window is rapidly closing.


We present a seminumerical simulation method called SIRFEM, which enables the efficient prediction of high-frequency transducer outputs. In particular, this is important for acoustic microscopy where the specimen under investigation is immersed in a coupling fluid. Conventional finite-element (FE) simulations for such applications would consume too much computational power due to the required spatial and temporal discretization, especially for the coupling fluid between ultrasonic transducer and specimen. However, FE simulations are in most cases essential to consider the mode conversion at and inside the solid specimen as well as the wave propagation in its interior. SIRFEM reduces the computational effort of pure FE simulations by treating only the solid specimen and a small part of the fluid layer with FE. The propagation in the coupling fluid from transducer to specimen and back is processed by the so-called spatial impulse response (SIR). Through this hybrid approach, the number of elements as well as the number of time steps for the FE simulation can be reduced significantly, as it is presented for an axis-symmetric setup. Three B-mode images of a plane 2-D setup-computed at a transducer center frequency of 20 MHz-show that SIRFEM is, furthermore, able to predict reflections at inner structures as well as multiple reflections between those structures and the specimen's surface. For the purpose of a pure 2-D setup, the SIR of a curved-line transducer is derived and compared to the response function of a cylindrically focused aperture of negligible extend in the third spatial dimension.


Unemployment among educated young men has become a central feature of globalization. In this article, I examine the experiences and strategies of unemployed young men in the north Indian city of Meerut. Many of these men complain that they are "just passing time" (doing "timepass") in run-down government universities. But they also use this idea of themselves in limbo to fashion novel cultures of masculinity that partially bridge caste divides. I use a discussion of these young men's predicament to argue for an ethnographically sensitive political-economy approach to the study of youth, culture, and neoliberal transformation, one attuned to both the durability of social inequalities and counterintuitive cultural practice.


XML documents are typically queried with a combination of value search and structure search. While querying by values can leverage traditional database technologies, evaluating structural relationship, specifically parent-child or ancestor-descendant relationship, between XML element sets has imposed a great challenge on efficient XML query processing. We propose XR-tree, namely, XML region tree, which is a dynamic external memory index structure specially designed for strictly nested XML data. The unique feature of XR-tree is that, for a given element, all its ancestors (or descendants) in an element set indexed by an XR-tree can be identified with optimal worst case I/O cost. We then propose a new structural join algorithm that can evaluate the structural relationship between two XR-tree indexed element sets by effectively skipping ancestors and descendants that do not participate in the join. Our extensive performance study shows that the XR-tree based join algorithm significantly outperforms previous algorithms.


FlexRay provides a communication infrastructure for future generation high-speed control applications in vehicle such as advanced powertrain, chassis, and by-wire systems. In FlexRay, the static segment is based on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to achieve distributed control loops. Therefore, scheduling of the static segment is critical for an efficient FlexRay-based system designing. In this paper, the bin-packing algorithm and the hybrid genetic algorithm basing on bin-packing algorithm are proposed. We have computed the response times of all the tasks and messages in the system so that the message can be transmitted successfully before the deadline. At the end, we compare bin-packing algorithm, genetic algorithm and hybrid genetic algorithm to verify the validity of the hybrid genetic algorithm through a test of Automotive Safety System.


ndigenous construction firms in Nigeria operate in one of the harshest economic climates while competing with their foreign counterparts. ICFs require strategic and innovative marketing skills in selling their products and services to current and prospective clients. The paper examined the use of social media marketing strategies by indigenous construction firms in Nigeria; a tool for sustainable growth. The study used quantitative data through a questionnaire survey instrument at company-level. A total ofseventy-nine (79) questionnaires at firm level were utilised. The data collected were presented using stacked bars, radar charts and matrix correlation. The study identified the social media platforms mostly utilisedby ICFs and the major barriers resisting the adoption of the innovative marketing strategy in Nigeria. The perceived benefits accrued to ICFs in the use of social media as a marketing tool differs across the type of social media platforms in use by the ICFs. ICFs need to be concerned about image and trust building through a concerted effort in client engagement on social media platforms to improve their brand and reputation. Social media marketing strategies should be integrated with the traditional marketing plans of construction firm.


Single-nanoparticle plasmonic sensors utilizing Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) on a single nanoparticle has attracted increasing interesting in recent years. However, variations in plasmonic responses between different nanoparticles have not been fully studied. Here we discuss the LSPR scattering peak wavelength distribution of wet-synthesized, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped Au nanorods. A darkfield microscope system was built to track down LSPR signals of individual nanoparticles. Results showed that peak wavelengths of individual Au nanorods that are synthesized in a same batch are broadly distributed ranging from 600 nm to 850 nm. The standard deviation of peak wavelength location from 20 randomly selected Au nanorods was 50.6 nm. Our investigation also revealed that wavelength shift from different nanorods for the same bulk refractive index change could be significant. In general, the plasmonic detection sensitivity of nanoparticles was found to be proportional to peak wavelength location.


Interpersonal transformation of pastors – the paradox of emosional trauma as source to healing This article refl ects upon the way in which the interplay between reason and emotion infl uences pastors' lives and ministry. It studies the process of inner transformation as a meaningful way for pastors to become 'healed healers'. Inner transformation is described in terms of Aristotle's phronēsis and Paul Ricoeur's movement from mimēsis1 to mimēsis3. The article agrues that 'healing' in no way purports that pastors are able to heal others in a literal sense, but merely that by being conscious of their own wounds, pastors can experience the paradox that their own wounds could become a source of healing. This approach to woundedness is interpreted from two distinct perspectives. Firstly, it is seen from the perspective of Jesus as the human face of God. Jesus' emotional disposition towards the nobodies of his time is seen as paradigmatic for pastors' relationships with others. Secondly, woundedness is seen within the context of the metaphor of the wounded healer as narrated in ancient Greek mythology, and used by Carl Jung in a psychiatric setting. It is not only pastors' knowledge of the Bible, theological tradition and different pastoral and other therapeutic theories, models and methods that facilitates meaningful interaction between themselves and others. Central to pastors' role as wounded healers is their conscious acknowledgement of their own humanity and therefore their own woundedness. Authors: S. Philip Nolte1 Yolanda Dreyer1 Affi liations: 1Departement Praktiese Teologie, Fakulteit Teologie, Universiteit van Pretoria


Microspheres of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were blended and prepared using the water in oil (w/o) emulsion solvent evaporation method. The PLA/PCL blend was formulated with the composition of 60:40 (w/w), nonionic surfactant was utilized as the emulsifier. This study observed the distribution of the microspheres particle size by varying the nonionic surfactant volumes, emulsion stirring speed, and dispersion stirring time. The microspheres were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). Physical forms of microspheres were observed using an optical microscope as well. The IR spectra of PLA/PCL blend showed that only physical interaction was occured between them. Moreover, the result of this study showed that when 2.0 mL nonionic surfactant was added, the uniform size distribution of the formed microspheres was observed at 31.50µm. Furthermore, the microspheres that formed through emulsion stirring speed at 900 rpm revealed that the formed microspheres have a uniform size distribution at 31.50 μm, while the uniform size distribution at 34.58 μm was observed in the microspheres that formed during the dispersion stirring time at 90 minutes.


Displacement fields in a thick adherend lap joint were measured by high-sensitivity moire interferometry. Contour maps of in-plane U and V displacements were obtained across adhesive and adherend surfaces. Loads ranged from a modest load to a near-failure load. Quantitative results are given for displacements and strains in the adhesive and along the adhesive/adherend boundary lines. The results show nearly constant shear strain in the adhesive, nonlinear strains as a function of load or average shear stress, and viscoelastic or time-dependent response. Longitudinal normal strains in the adhesive are nearly two orders of magnitude less than the shear strains. With its subwavelength displacement resolution and high spatial resolution, moire interferometry is especially well suited for deformation studies of adhesive joints.


The author describes a case study in which the grid mechanism was used to describe the structure of Scribe, a document-processing system in widespread use. The structure description is presented and explained in some detail, and the effectiveness of the grid for specifying the important structural features of Scribe is discussed. It is shown that the grid succeeds in its objective of presenting complex structures clearly. A grid specification forms a suitable basis for a narrative explanation of system structure. It is further noted that some detailed improvements would further enhance the expressiveness of the grid, and that environment support is essential for serious use of the grid. >


Research shows that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, pain, and stress (Baer, 2003; Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed for individuals with these symptoms and strives to help participants embrace all present-moment life experiences, regardless of positive or negative emotions (Kabat-Zinn, 1985). This present-moment awareness is developed with a non-judgmental attitude of acceptance (Kabat-Zinn, 1985). MBSR can be conceptualized as an intervention that utilizes internal self-regulatory strategies to improve attention, awareness, acceptance, life satisfaction, and emotional regulation (Baer, 2003; Kabat-Zinn et al., 1985; Robertson, 2011). Individuals with cognitive disabilities experience poor emotion regulation, attention problems, anxiety, depression, and low quality of life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Given the benefits of MBSR, researchers developed an adapted MBSR group for a group of individuals with cognitive disabilities. Researchers anticipated the adapted Mindfulness Skills Group (MSG) would be efficacious in reducing symptoms of anxiety while improving life satisfaction, mindfulness awareness, and on-task behaviors. A sample of 24 individuals with varying cognitive disability diagnoses participated in the MSG curriculum as a part of a larger cognitive rehabilitation program. Following the 12-week intervention, pre post assessments of mindfulness awareness, anxiety, satisfaction with life, and on-task behaviors were analyzed. Participants demonstrated a significant increase in life satisfaction (t=3.06, p=.005). However, hypotheses surrounding improving symptoms of anxiety, mindfulness awareness, and total on-task behaviors were not supported. This study suggests that mindfulness-based interventions, specifically MBSR-adapted programs, may be efficacious in significantly improving individuals' quality of life. Further research is needed to explore relationships between awareness and anxiety and the potential role of mindfulness as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with cognitive disabilities. This research study demonstrates that mindfulness can be implemented in real-world clinical Rehabilitation Counseling practice while significantly improving the lives of individuals with cognitive disabilities.


A transmission line model is developed for coupled plasmonic metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides. In the proposed model coupling between electric fields of two plasmonic waveguides is modeled by distributed mutual capacitor while distributed mutual inductor accounts for magnetic field coupling. These mutual elements are determined using propagation constants of supermodes of coupled waveguides. The model is applied to analyze coupled line directional coupler and side-coupled rectangular resonators. The effectiveness of the model is assessed using fully numerical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. The results have excellent agreement with the numerical methods.


The increasing participation of people in online activities in recent years like content publishing, and having different kinds of relationships and interactions, along with the emergence of online social networks and people's extensive tendency toward them, have resulted in generation and availability of a huge amount of valuable information that has never been available before, and have introduced some new, attractive, varied, and useful research areas to researchers. In this paper we try to review some of the accomplished research on information of SNSs (Social Network Sites), and introduce some of the attractive applications that analyzing this information has. This will lead to the introduction of some new research areas to researchers. By reviewing the research in this area we will present a categorization of research topics about online social networks. This categorization includes seventeen research subtopics or subareas that will be introduced along with some of the accomplished research in these subareas. According to the consequences (slight, significant, and sometimes catastrophic) that revelation of personal and private information has, a research area that researchers have vastly investigated is privacy in online social networks. After an overview on different research subareas of SNSs, we will get more focused on the subarea of privacy protection in social networks, and introduce different aspects of it along with a categorization of these aspects.


BACKGROUND
Durable polymer coatings have been implicated in mid- and long-term adverse events after drug-eluting stent implantation. A polymer-free dual-drug sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent and a new generation permanent polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent are recently developed technologies demonstrating encouraging results.

METHODS AND RESULTS
In a clinical trial with minimal exclusion criteria, we randomly assigned 3002 patients to treatment with sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stents versus zotarolimus-eluting stents. The trial was designed to demonstrate noninferiority of the sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stents. The primary end point was the combined incidence of cardiac death, target-vessel-related myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up. Follow-up angiography was scheduled at 6 to 8 months. The sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent was noninferior to the zotarolimus-eluting stent in terms of occurrence of the primary end point (13.1% versus 13.5%, respectively, P(noninferiority)=0.006; hazard ratio=0.97, 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.19; P(superiority)=0.74). The incidence of definite/probable stent thrombosis was low in both groups (1.1% versus 1.2%, respectively; hazard ratio=0.91 [95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 1.84], P=0.80). With regard to angiographic efficacy, there were no differences between the sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent and the zotarolimus-eluting stent in terms of either in-segment binary angiographic restenosis (13.3% versus 13.4% respectively; P=0.95) or in-stent late luminal loss (0.31±0.58 mm versus 0.29±0.56 mm, respectively; P=0.46).

CONCLUSION
In this large-scale study powered for clinical end points, a polymer-free sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent was noninferior to a new generation durable polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stent out to 12 months.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier NCT 00598533.


Photo by Renè Müller on Unsplash
INTRODUCTION
Forced sterilization of women around the globe is a human rights violation and bioethical concern. In the past, countries enacted laws to forcibly sterilize women deemed unfit to procreate. Although many of these laws have been retracted, the practice persists under the guise of public health. More recently, women living with HIV have been targets of nonconsensual sterilization. Consent is frequently obtained while under duress or threat or not obtained at all. Nonconsensual sterilization has been documented in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Namibia, South Africa, and Venezuela.[1] In 2015, three women who were sterilized without consent sued the Supreme Court of Namibia, which did not find evidence that the doctors engaged in discrimination by performing or recommending the procedures due to the patient's HIV status.[2]
l.     What is Forced and Coerced Sterilization?
Forced sterilization is any sterilization that takes place without a patient's informed consent. In healthcare settings, it occurs when women seeking sexual and reproductive health care are sterilized without their knowledge or the opportunity to provide informed consent. The practice is used as a means of permanent contraception. Surgery is the most common sterilization method. Women may unknowingly have a hysterectomy, the blocking and severing of fallopian tubes, or they may be administered a medication that causes the fallopian tubes to seal, thus preventing fertilization. Nonconsensual sterilization may result from misinformation, financial incentives, or intimidation tactics obliging women to approve of the procedure.[3]
ll.     Namibia: A Case Study
Namibia presents a crucial bioethical injustice despite its perceived legislative success in curbing forced sterilization. In 2008, the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and the Namibian Women's Health Network (NWHN) documented mass violations of sexual and reproductive health rights. The report recorded breaches of informed consent when testing for HIV, denial of information to women with HIV, and divulging or risking confidential patient information.[4]
Between 2005 and 2007, three women were coerced into bilateral tubal ligation when seeking reproductive health care. In 2012, the women filed a suit against the Namibian Government for constitutional violations.[5] Their claims included infringements of their rights to dignity, liberty, and to make decisions about starting a family. In addition, the women claimed the procedures were discriminatory due to the women's HIV status. In 2015, the Namibian High Court ruled in the women's favor and rendered the sterilizations unlawful. However, the Court failed to conclude that the acts were discriminatory. [6]
lll.     Autonomy
In the traditional Western view of bioethics, autonomy is defined as self-rule, freedom from the control and limitations of others. Autonomy requires informed consent and the absence of coercion. If a person's choice is based on manipulation, coercion, or compulsion, consent is not truly voluntary, and if it is based on misinformation, it is not informed, violating autonomy.[7]
Eight hours into labor, a nurse informed one of the plaintiffs that she must undergo a hysterectomy. The plaintiff was presented with official documentation to consent to the procedure, which was not explained to her. The documentation referred only to the sterilization procedure using an abbreviation. She was dependent on the clinician's assistance in the birthing procedure. She was not aware of the nature of the procedure because she did not understand the options and consequences in the consent document. The healthcare workers made no effort to inform the woman of her right to abstain from the procedure, which she did not understand was a sterilization procedure. She did not learn that she was sterile until returning to the clinic to obtain retroviral medication for her child.[8] The consent was neither voluntary nor informed, undermining autonomy.
lV.     Beneficence
The principle of beneficence consists of the moral obligation to do good and has been described as requiring one to act for another's benefit or to further a patient's interests. What constitutes the patient's good is related to both the patient's view of her good and what allows her to pursue her own conceptualization of "good." Beneficence from a physician's viewpoint might also concern what the physician thinks is good or best for the patient. Studies asking women, "have there been any positive or good changes in your life ever since you found out that you were sterilized," report no positive outcomes.[9] By ignoring the interests of patients, beneficence is abandoned.
By performing forced sterilizations, healthcare workers deprive women of the right to bear children in the future. This directly violates the notion of prioritizing a patient's interests. In Namibia, patriarchal cultural values about reproduction, marriage, and child-rearing instill expectations on women to bear and rear children.[10] Forcibly sterilizing women ignores heightened cultural pressures and the psychosocial outcomes for women who cannot become pregnant. Sterilization risks discrimination against women with HIV. In addition, a woman who is forcibly sterilized may suffer abuse from a spouse who was excluded from the decision, leading to compounding adverse effects on physical and psychological well-being.
Beneficence also calls for ending discrimination. Coerced sterilization is partly based on mistaken beliefs about vertical HIV transmission.[11] Although proper medication can prevent mother-to-child transmission, clinicians who are ill-informed about transmission resort to sterilization.
Women subjected to forced sterilization suffer immense physical harm at clinicians' hands. Consequential physical health problems include heavy menstrual bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and lower limb weakness. These physical health problems increase financial difficulties and the need for health services, placing additional financial, physical, and emotional stress on patients. Clinicians' disregard for the socio-cultural consequences is non-beneficent and a bioethical lapse. The sterilizations come under the backdrop of pervasive victimization of women, discrimination, and gender-based violence, made worse in the aftermath of sterilization.[12]
Among women forcibly sterilized in Latin American countries, pregnant women with HIV are six times more likely to be forcibly sterilized than pregnant women with HIV whose diagnosis was unknown to themselves and their physicians.[13] Equivalent findings have been documented in Southern Africa.[14] By perpetuating HIV-discriminatory beliefs that deem women unworthy of reproduction, clinicians subject patients to harmful discrimination and freely discount the principle of justice.
V.     Through a Human Rights Lens
Nonconsensual sterilization is recognized as an "act of torture, and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment" by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Torture is defined as intentionally inflicted suffering on a person for an improper purpose or if that purpose is based on discrimination. [15] The United Nations has condemned forced sterilization as a violation of the rights to health, bodily integrity, freedom from violence, freedom from torture, freedom from discrimination, and to decide the number and spacing of their children. The right to health is guaranteed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
The right to information is guaranteed under The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).[16] There is also a long recognized right to informed consent under which healthcare practitioners provide the information necessary for people to make an informed choice. Practitioners must disclose the risks and benefits of a procedure. In the actions leading to the 2015 lawsuit in Namibia, the women were unaware that they had been made sterile until they returned to a healthcare facility. They had not been given a choice. The doctors told them they 'must' undergo the procedure. The clinicians failed to provide clear and comprehensible information and did not confirm that the patients understood the consequences of the process.
Using the patient care framework (HRPC), healthcare facilities and governments can reduce stigma and discrimination. HRPC acknowledges the systematic nature of forced and coerced sterilization and calls for seeking out and trying to eliminate involuntary and coerced sterilization. To comply with the HRPC, countries must investigate and abolish all instances of coerced sterilization in an effective and just manner.
In the courts, better human rights argumentation and the ability to challenge legal deficiencies would improve plaintiffs' ability to win cases.
CONCLUSION
The bioethics community should take action to end coerced sterilizations as they violate the four principles of bioethics set forth by Beauchamp and Childress. In Namibia, the case of the three plaintiffs demonstrates the need for more bioethical attention, as the disregard for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice were clear. Employing a human rights framework emphasizes the structural origins of the practice and calls for governments to seek out and end coerced sterilization. If coerced sterilization does occur, courts that prosecute it can be a deterrent and can work toward righting the wrong through the justice system.
-
[1] Open Society Foundations, "Against Her Will: Forced and Coerced Sterilization of Women Worldwide.", (2011): 2-10 (accessed August).
[2] Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo, Katherine Furman, Annabel Raw and Mariette Slabbert, "Chronicles of communication and power: informed consent to sterilisation in the Namibian Supreme Court's LM judgment of 2015," Theoretical Med Bioethics 38 (April 2017): 145-162, https://doi.org/


Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects children and can result in coronary artery lesions (CALs). Thrombomodulin (TM) is a critical cofactor in the protein C anticoagulant system. The TM C1418T (rs1042579) polymorphism is associated with a high risk of cardiac-cerebral vascular diseases. But the association of the TM C1418T polymorphism with susceptibility to KD, CAL formation, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance is still unclear. In our study, we examined the TM C1418T polymorphism in 122 children with KD and 126 healthy children and revealed the correlation between the TM C1418T polymorphism and KD, CAL formation, and IVIG resistance.


This work is focused on the comparison between the commercial polyamide PEBAX® MH 1657 and a new set of synthetized polyimides with different polyethylene glycol lengths. The samples were synthesized with the same poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) content (57 wt%) for comparison with the commercial polymer. All polymers have been characterized by several techniques revealing a direct relationship between crystallinity, PEO length and permeability properties. Results at temperatures lower than the Tm of the polyether blocks confirm that lower PEO crystallinity corresponds to higher permeability. At temperatures higher than the Tm of the PEO block, no significant differences were found between the commercial polyamides and the synthesized polyimides. This confirms that the aliphatic phase controls the separation while the hard block provides mechanical strength. Remarkable are the results for the CO2/N2 separation. These new copolyimides are promising materials for post-combustion processes.


Heavy metal and cyanide contamination in electroplating wastewater can pose a serious environmental problem if not removed prior to discharge (Rajeswari and Sailaja 2014). Electrocoagulation has been shown to effectively remove many of these contaminants separately using batch treatment systems (Adhoum et al. 2004). The present study seeks to test the technologic efficacy of mixed electrocoagulation and hydroxide precipitation to simultaneously treat metals common to the electroplating industry (Ni, Cu, Sn), and cyanide (CN). The ultimate goal of the study is to offer a process which has the potential for use in continuous treatment. Cyanide ion (CN) begins to form volatile and dangerous hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in increasing concentrations as the pH drops below 11. At the same time, literature shows a drop-off in metal removal efficiencies using electrocoagulation at pH's above 10 (Kobya et al. 2010). To overcome this drop, process variables such as current density, agitation rate, and volumetric flow rate of air were optimized using removal speed and final concentration as the chosen metrics. The data followed first and pseudo-first order kinetics which allowed the rate constants to gauge the relative rates of removal. The present work was able to reduce Ni, Cu, Sn and CN concentrations below the discharge limits set forth by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The electrocoagulation cell conditions were optimized at a current density of 50 ASF, spin speed of 0 RPM, and volumetric flowrate of air of 0.0022 ft/min. This, along with a treatment time of 112 minutes, yielded an electricity consumption of 0.0206 kwh/L and an iron consumption of 3.83g/L. The study showed aeration to be necessary in achieving EPA discharge limits for complex cyanide removal. The use of aeration decreased the final concentration of complex cyanide from 4.1 to 0.91 mg/L after 2 hours of treatment. Testing also revealed direct reduction of metallic contaminants to the cathode to be another method of removal. Overall, the study shows electrocoagulation to be technologically and economically viable when treating high speed electroplating effluent. Due to the chosen conditions, the process also has the possibility of being extended to continuous treatment in the future.


This paper presents a non-linear numerical investigation of surface cracks in round bars under combined bending and torsion loadings by using ANSYS finite element analysis (FEA). Due to the non-symmetrical analysis, a full finite element (FE) model was constructed and special attention was given at the crack tip of the cracks. The surface cracks were characterized by the dimensionless crack aspect ratio, a/b = 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2, while the dimensionless relative crack depth, a/D = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3. The square-root singularity of stresses and strains was modeled by shifting the mid-point nodes to the quarter-point locations in the region around the crack front. The proposed model was validated with the existing model before any further analysis. The elastic-plastic analysis under the loading was assumed to follow the Ramberg-Osgood relation with strain hardening exponent, n = 5 and 10. J values were determined for all positions along the crack front and then, the limit load was predicted using the J values obtained from FEA through the reference stress method.


The impact of Post-COVID-19 on economic growth is obviously substantial, but measuring such impact to get a sense of the intensity of its effects on inflation and unemployment is subject to a great deal of uncertainty. As such, this paper primarily attempts to close this gap by introducing the COVIDECONOMICS-19-Simulator (COVIDECONOMICS-19-Simulator), a new economic instrument that could be used to evaluate the impact of Post-COVID-19 on inflation and unemployment. Based on five key indicators, the COVIDECONOMICS-19-Simulator considers and draws its assessment from different focuses of analysis to evaluate the Post-COVID-19 economic damage anywhere and anytime. Hence, in this article, the world economy was used to illuminate and illustrate the applicability of the COVIDECONOMICS-19-Simulator from where analyses provide a coherent evaluation of the degree to which Post-COVID-19 negative economic effects on the world inflation and unemployment. Finally, this paper also proposes a new concept entitled "Inemployment". The inemployment define as the full or partial labor immobility or lockout from any contagious diseases (epidemics or pandemic) or natural disasters or social conflict (war). The inemployment can be considered as a pre-stage to unemployment in the short or medium run.


Before taking up some of the problems mentioned in Professor Tarlton's letter, I should like to enter one point of clarification regarding my exchange with Professor Dahl and a word of explanation concerning Professor Pool's communication. In his original letter Professor Dahl had kindly included a reproduction of the specific passages from A Preface to Democratic Theory which were at issue in our discussion. I had assumed that the Review would include them along with his letter, but, unfortunately, it did not. May I suggest, therefore, that readers who may be mystified by my allusions consult pages 50-51 of Professor Dahl's work? Professor Pool had communicated his objections in a letter to me (January 23, 1970). I replied to him at some length. Professor Tarlton characterizes my essay as "an almost deliberate piece of obscurantism" whose "upshot is an almost occult sense of the mysteries of politics . . ." and an aristocratic snobbishness. It is not easy to reply to a charge of being "almost." If Professor Tarlton believes that the language which I used to describe tacit knowledge is evidence of a position which is "almost" like alchemy, magic, and cabalism, then he probably believes that most great creations of scientific theory, philosophy, literature, music, and art are rooted in occultism. Professor Tarlton also charges me with arguing that the study of the major political theorists of the past will "inoculate students" against certain contemporary trends. If I had argued this, I would have been undercutting the point of my critique of "methodism." My basic position was stated in this form: "Appropriateness of judgment cannot be encapsulated into a formula." (p. 1077) I would agree with Professor Tarlton's commonplace that "everybody doesn't read" the major theorists in the way that I might and that many of the assertions advanced by past theorists are objectionable or false. My position in these matters is not very startling: in reading past theories, students are not being asked to suspend their critical faculties but to extend them by scrutinizing the arguments and assumptions being systematically worked out by serious thinkers. The value of the activity lies in the awareness which is cultivated, an awareness of what sorts of problems have been regarded as political and of what is occurring when a theorist proceeds to develop a theory. As my essay tried to suggest, most of the major theories have been designed to destroy and to innovate (p. 1079) and hence the student has the opportunity of observing minds in disagreement and of deciding for himself. I would also agree with Professor Tarlton that the notion of tradition presents difficult problems for the study of political theory. Most of my work has been concerned with these problems. It remains unfinished


Extensive tracts of Devonian and older sedimentary and igneous units occur within the axial region of the western Karakoram Block of northernmost Pakistan over a distance in excess of 200 km between the the headwaters of the Karambar valley in northwestern Gilgit Agency to southwestern Chitral. Conodont data indicate that the oldest sedimentary unit so far discriminated within this belt, the Yarkhun Formation, includes horizons of Ordovician (Arenig) age, consistent with an earlier-presented acritarch-based Arenig age for part of the same unit. Conodont data from the "Lun Shales", a stratigraphic potpourri with little-known Silurian and Devonian tracts, demonstrate the presence of Early Devonian (early Emsian) horizons. The Shogrâm Formation, widely distributed through the region, spans an appreciable interval of the Middle and Late Devonian mid-Givetian through until at least early Famennian. A major lacuna in sedimentation may be present, represented by all or most of the earlier half of Frasnian time. A biostratigraphically and possibly biogeographically important new species, Icriodus homeomorphus, is described; it is encountered in horizons of early Famennian age (Late triangularis Zone to ?Early crepida Zone).


The shales in the thick Tertiary section of southern Louisiana are largely uniform and lack lithologic contrasts, with the result that conventional logging methods and geophysical surveys often yield inconclusive data. In an effort to provide useful supplementary information, a program of mineralogical study has been conducted for several years at Columbia University on clays from a significant southern Louisiana locality, Caillou Island. Materials available for study have included a few conventional cores, numerous side-wall cores and extensive suites of cuttings. The principal techniques applied have been bulk density measurement by flotation and indentation as an indication of compaction. In addition, core textures have been examined on polished surfaces and mineralogical identifications have been made by means of the X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence, and optical examination. Likewise optical data have been supplemented by index determinations on fused clays. Clay mineral constituents of the section are almost entirely illite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite, normally in about the same relative amounts, but on the south flank of the dome an important change in distribution ranges is recognized at the top of a deep shale zone. Purified Caillou Island illite has been pressed to form a series of small briquettes at regular intervals in the range 0-50,000 psi. to provide reference material compacted under known static load. The briquettes have been tested for bulk density and relative indentation numbers and the resultant curves have been found to show straight-line relationships. These curves have been used as reference lines in examining bulk densities and indentation numbers of well samples in the range 5,000-18,000 ft. Abnormal deviation from the reference curves in certain wells is believed to indicate differential domal compaction in excess of compaction from the gravitational component. The distribution of the anomalies may be structurally significant. A deep shale zone south of the Caillou Island dome yields an unexpected reduction in indentation numbers and bulk densities with some redistribution of clay mineral proportions. The break in bulk density and indentation curves at the top of this zone in a local area suggests low-angle fault movement associated with the domal intrusion.


This studyaimed to observe the effect of knowledge competencies, skill, and motivation on the performanceof Members of the Anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (DPRD) of Riau Province. Methodsof data collection research done by filling the questionnaire to obtain data in accordance with thepurposes of research, in this item in accordance with the questions at issue. Data analysis wasperformed by measuring the degree of correlation between the independent and dependentvariables, using multiple regression analysis and correlation. Results showed partially visiblepresence of a significant and positive relationship between competence, skills, and motivation onthe performance of DPRD Riau Provincial. Simultaneous hypothesis testing to prove that there isa significant and positive relationship between competence, skills and motivation to the performanceof DPRD Riau Province.


This thesis investigates how peasants regulated and shared forest resources in North Ostrobothnia during the seventeenth century where large-scale tar and timber production took place. The forests were owned as commons by peasant communities on village and parish level and became increasingly exploited during the century. The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate how the growing importance of forest resources affected the ability of peasants to govern and share forest resources in a sustainable way. Focus is therefore put on the institutional organisation of peasant communities and emphasises the complexity of how governance within village and parish communities developed. Three interrelated dimensions of sustainability are considered: ecological, institutional, and economic sustainability. The thesis also seeks to explain how burghers and Swedish state officials influenced this development. This is done by qualitatively and quantitatively analysing local district protocols, maps, and Swedish legislation. The thesis shows how peasant communities achieved balance between the three dimensions of sustainability. This ensured that they did not undermine the ecological underpinnings on which they depended, that their institutional organisation remained robust, and that they could make a living. This was possible through the prioritisation of rules and borders through collective action. The thesis also shows an increasing level of nestedness within peasant communities. This development was both enabled and inhibited by the peasants' relation to burghers and Swedish state officials who became involved in the nestedness of peasant institutions.


A liquid drop placed on a heated surface above the Leidenfrost temperature will levitate on a vapor cushion. The static shape of these non-wetting Leidenfrost drops is that of a flattened sphere, reflecting the balance between gravitational, surface tension and lubrication pressures. In this thesis, we study Leidenfrost drops on curved substrates where we observe spontaneous star-shaped surface oscillations of characteristic frequency and mode number. Experiments are conducted using six different liquids and the temporal response of the observed modes n = 2− 13 is analyzed to define the oscillation spectrum. We observe that large drops oscillate with a constant frequency, while small drop frequencies are strongly dependent upon liquid volume. A simple mathematical model is developed using a hydrodynamic stability analysis and shows reasonable agreement with our large experimental data set. Scaling arguments are used to collapse the data which allows generalized statements to be made regarding the physics governing star oscillations. In addition, we observe more complex dynamics such as mode doubling where two distinct modes are simultaneously excited at different frequencies and modal dominance where one mode persists over large ranges of parameter space previously thought to be occupied by another mode. Lastly, we conclude by offering some qualitative observations of Leidenfrost shape instabilities in other complex substrate geometries.


This paper looks at the ERP offerings at 17 universities that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), have a concentration, major or 4 year degree in Information Systems (IS) and who also belong to the SAP University Alliance (SAPUA). SAP was chosen because it is by far the largest ERP company and is the number one software producer in the world by sales volume. It was intended to find out what are the characteristics of the IS programs that offer ERP. The data was gathered by looking at the web pages of each of the IS programs. A comparison of the IS offerings of these universities to IS'2002 is also made. The major deficiencies of programs that do not meet the IS'2002 Curriculum are listed. In addition, a preliminary indication of how these universities would fare under the ABET IS accreditation criteria is made.


BACE is an aspartyl protease that cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) at the beta-secretase cleavage site and is involved in Alzheimer's disease. The aim of our study was to determine whether BACE affects the processing of the APP homolog APLP2. To this end, we developed BACE knockout mice with a targeted insertion of the gene for beta-galactosidase. BACE appeared to be exclusively expressed in neurons as determined by differential staining. BACE was expressed in specific areas in the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, pons, and spinal cord. APP processing was altered in the BACE knockouts with Abeta levels decreasing. The levels of APLP2 proteolytic products were decreased in BACE KO mice, but increased in BACE transgenic mice. Overexpression of BACE in cultured cells led to increased APLP2 processing. Our results strongly suggest that BACE is a neuronal protein that modulates the processing of both APP and APLP2.


Two techniques are applied for segmentation of different states of one texture (e.g. deformations of a homogeneous texture): fractal geometry, which deals with the analysis of complex irregular shapes which cannot be described by the classical Euclidean geometry, and integral geometry, which treats sets globally and makes it possible to introduce robust measures. The author focuses on the study of two parameters, lacunarity and Favard length, and proves a theoretical link between them. As an application, the author achieves with an excellent accuracy automatic classification of lung diseases on SPECT images. Classical techniques tried on those images given poor results. >


The paper reports on research carried out in April 2007 on a sample of manufacturing firms in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy. The aim was to understand the nature and the prospects of the transport and logistics demand deriving from firms. It resulted that firms require an intense and growing amount of services to procure inputs and deliver products to a large number of destinations, both nationally and internationally. A large percentage of the shipments are full load, point-to-point shipments which require traditional transport operators. However, there is a growing share of shipments which demand groupage/courier services implying logistics operators able to make higher levels of investments, manage a national or international network, exploit scale and scope economies and compete in quality and not only in costs.


Experimental teaching is an important part of the undergraduate teaching, which plays an especially important role in training the integrate quality of students. In practical teaching, students should not only have comprehensive theoretical foundation, but also possess good practical and innovation ability in engineering. The construct and implementation of the experimental teaching system will be developed and innovated based on the development of subject and the practice of students' ability. Novel teaching mode is built by the method of designing comprehensive experimental curriculum, improving teaching system and structure and introducing advanced experimental technology. This is essential for strengthening the ability of integrating theory with practice and engineering practice, as well as improving the scientific thinking and creative consciousness. Furthermore, it is beneficial to cultivate the high-level research personnels.


The research aims at finding out the influence of leadership style and communicative skill of school principals on teachers working performance in senior high schools of North Musi Rawas regency. The research was conducted through quantitative approach with double regression analysis. It was executed in 6 senior high schools in North Musi Rawas regency. The population of the research was all senior high schools in North Musi Rawas regency. Meanwhile, the accessible population was six schools consist of 200 informants. The sampling technique was stratified random sampling, namely,  collecting sample randomly propositioned from each group in the schools. The data analysis was done through double regression analysis with ordinary least Square. Then the hypothesis testing was through multi-co-linearity, heterokedastisitas, auto-corellation, normally distributed. Statistical hypothesis was done through T testvamd F test. The result of variable X1 analysis presented t-obtained = 2,644 and p-value = 0.027/2 = 0,013 < 0.05, it means leadership style has a positive impact on teachers performance. Moreover, the result of variable X2 analysis presented t-obtained = 2.526 and p-value = 0.013/2 = 0.006 < 0.05, it means the communicative skill of school principals has a positive impact on teachers working performance.
Keywords: Leadership Style,  Communicative Skill, Working Performance


During the last millennium the world economic and geopolitical conflicts were to a great extent connected: different crises in the World System's evolution stimulated geopolitical shifts and vice versa. This article argues that in the 15th century different geopolitical events and conflicts in Central Asia initiated the fall of the previous World System and the rise of the new one. This transformation resulted in the fall of overland and river trade routes, including the Great Silk Route, which passed through Central Asia. World trade shifted to sea and ocean routes, and European countries became the center of the new World System. Now, in the beginning of the 21st century a new transformation of the World System is underway. The center of economic and political development is migrating gradually to the East: this is why the geopolitical role of the Central Asian states is increasing. Central Asian states are a very important part of the New Silk Route; this route is to connect Eastern Asia with Europe and the Middle East. The United States, China, Russia, and other states are ardently competing to control the New Silk Route. Hence, different geopolitical, social, and military conflicts are probable in Central Asia. So economic and political integration in Eurasia between Russia, China, the United States and Central Asian states is very important for the geopolitical stabilization of the region. The article evaluates the main scenarios of geopolitical changes in Central Asia.


To control the speed of an overactuated vehicle there may be many possible ways to use the actuators of the car achieving the same outcome. The actuators in an ordinary car is a combustion engine and a friction brake. In some cases it is trivial how to coordinate actuators for the optimal result, but in many cases it is not.The goal with the thesis is to investigate if it is possible to achieve the same or improved performance with a more sophisticated control structure than today's, using a model predictive controller. A model predictive controller combines the possibility to predict the outcome through an open-loop controller with the stability of a closed loop controller and gives the optimal solution for a finite horizon optimization problem.A simple model of the longitudinal dynamics of a car is developed and used in the model predictive controller framework. This is then used in simulations and in a real car. It is shown that it is possible to replace the current controller structure with a model predictive controller, but there are advantages and disadvantages with the new control structure.


The children of sex workers in Bangladesh are denied even the most basic human rights. This article is based on recent research focused on the children of sex workers in the context of their everyday lives. The study focused on access to education and how education could be a vehicle for them to break the vicious cycle of exploitation. This was a mixed method interpretative study which employed qualitative and quantitative approaches, but in this paper only qualitative data which was generated through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions is used. Data was collected from sex workers, their children, teachers and NGO workers who participated in the study. Information has been collected for analysing the expectation of the children of sex workers and hope for the future, and the opportunities available to them during their schooling. Thematic analysis technique was used to understand the challenges and barriers faced by the children of sex workers in fulfilling their educational aspirations. The lives of the children of sex workers are marginalised by the mainstream society. Though it is very difficult to break the vicious cycle of exploitation, this research finds that education may be a stepping stone for them to create a better future. However, it is argued that the children of sex workers need income generating vocational and technical education to enable them to earn and support their family. Policy recommendations have been made in order to achieve Education For All (EFA) targets and Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and to provide a second chance for these vulnerable young people to have a better life.


Dendritic cells are potent antigen-presenting cells located in strategic positions in the lung, enabling them to be a first line of defense against inhaled pathogens. These cells are a critical component of the immune system, and surveillance of tissues for emerging tumors, infectious pathogens, and cellular breakdown products relies to a large extent on dendritic cells. Langerhans cells are a specialized type of dendritic cell, distributed in a subepithelial location in the airways. At least 1 other population of non-Langerhans type of dendritic cells exists in the lung, distributed in the interstitial and pleural spaces. These phagocytic dendritic cells are able to activate upon contact with antigen or exposure to proinflammatory factors. Upon activation, they become migratory and transport antigens from the airways or distal lung spaces to the draining lymph nodes, where processed antigen is presented to T cells. In addition to eliciting specific T-cell responses to antigens, pulmonary dendritic cells also induce tolerance to innocuous antigens through the induction of regulatory T cells. Defective dendritic cell function plays an important role in numerous lung diseases. Understanding the origin, function, and interactions between dendritic cells and other resident airway and interstitial cells may provide key insight into many lung diseases, including asthma and interstitial lung diseases. Abnormalities in dendritic cell function have been implicated in the development of cancer, and ongoing research suggests that these cells may be used as an immune adjuvant to enable eradication of established lung cancer or prevent the development of


The purpose of the current study is to present an interpretation of Eros and its demonical aspect as it is described in Plato's dialogues Phaedrus and The Symposium as well as to attempt to throw some light over the question in which way the erotic as such influences Plato's notion of how to pursue philosophy. In the first part of the essay an account is given of the Platonic Eros as a unifying element and as striving for being. I defend the position that in the context of the interpreted dialogues philosophy is thought of as an erotic enterprise which takes place as a coming closer to the object of love. This coming closer takes place as remembering in Phaedrus and as creating in beauty in The Symposium. Further I suggest that the creative activity in which the philosophical lover is involved lets a certain demonic time arise. In the second part of the study I change perspective and look at the erotic desire as a twofold process. In order to clarify the underlying dynamics in this process I introduce the concept of demonic appeal. The erotic desire takes place according to this twofold structure as a demonic appeal on the side of the beloved which gives rise to an erotic striving on the side of the lover. The lover is pulled towards the beloved which is perceived by the lover as something demonic, as the effect of a foreign commanding power over him. What pulls the lover towards itself is the beautiful and I argue that the beautiful is the way in which being appears to the philosophic lover. In the last part of this section I discuss the consequences of this way of appearing of being for Plato's thinking. In the third and last part of this study I focus on mindfulness of one's erotic desires as the necessary condition for initiation of philosophic life. I maintain that the purpose of mindfulness according to the dialogues is the attainment of freedom and a reflective stance in respect to one's desires.


Growth‐related traits, such as greater height, greater biomass, faster growth rate and early flowering, are thought to enhance competitiveness of agricultural weeds. However, weedy rice, a conspecific weed of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), displays variation for growth traits. In the United States, separately evolved weedy rice groups have been shown to share genomic identity with exotic domesticated cultivars. Through a common garden experiment, we investigated whether growth trait divergence has occurred among U.S. weeds and their putative cultivated progenitors. We also determined polymorphism patterns in the growth candidate gene, SD1, to assess its possible role in the evolution of divergent phenotypes. We found considerable growth trait variation among weed groups, suggesting that growth trait convergence is not evident among weedy populations. Phenotypic divergence of weedy rice from cultivated ancestors is most apparent for flowering time. Introgression of a chromosomal block containing the SD1 allele from tropical japonica, the predominant U.S. rice cultivar, was detected in one weedy rice population and is associated with a change in growth patterns in this group. This study demonstrates the role of introgressive hybridization in evolutionary divergence of an important weed.


In this chapter, several systems engineering tools are presented and analyzed to determine shortcomings of these tools to improve the efficiency and efficacy of them working together in a modified design thinking methodology framework for space systems management. The space systems projects impose a high risk in all its stages, so that it is very important to reduce errors as possible based on activities that ensure the adequate project performance. Finally, specific systems engineering tools are used in particular stages and sub-stages of the proposal design thinking framework depending on the shortcomings and strengths of each one. This proposal framework accelerates the conventional process for a space project that usually requires a lot of resources and it is not suitable for both emerging countries and space agencies.


My interest in developmental and acquired pathologic disturbances of the meniscuses of the knee joint prompted me to seek an answer to the variations seen. I was desirous chiefly of learning the origin and time of appearance of the meniscuses and of the synovial membrane and their relationship to one another. The current textbooks and available literature were inadequate and confusing on these points because of widespread disagreement among various authors. The concept of the development of the knee joint varied according to the approach, whether from the point of view of embryology or that of comparative anatomy. The present study is based on embryologic observations and study of human anatomic specimens alone. COMPARATIVE ANATOMY In 1887 Sutton 1 explained the origin of the intra-articular structures by the indrawing of extra-articular ligaments with the assumption of ability to flex the joint. The meniscuses were said to be derived from the


The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of theophylline from a commercial oral elixir of theophylline, a rectal suppository of aminophylline, and a rectal enema of theophylline monoethanolamine was compared in six normal subjects. Using a complete crossovver design, the fasted subjects received a single dose of each dosage form. Blood and saliva samples were collected at frequent time intervals for 24 h, and the plasma assayed for theophylline by a specific thin-layer chromatography densitometric method. No statistically significant differences existed among the three dosage forms with respect to Cmax and AUC corrected for the elimination rate constant and the dose (mg kg−1). However, tmax was significantly larger for the suppository. While the rate of absorption was significantly slower for the suppository, no differences in the extent of absorption existed among the three dosage forms. A one-compartment open model with apparent first-order absorption adequately described the plasma concentration–time data for the elixir and enema, whereas the suppository data were best fitted by a one-compartment open model with apparent zero-order absorption and a lag time. A rate-limiting, concentration-independent release of drug from the base most likely accounts for the slow absorption of theophylline from the suppository. While the saliva: plasma ratio remained fairly constant for most of the study period, the large variability found during the absorption phase following drug administration limits the usefulness of this parameter as a monitor of theophylline plasma concentrations.


The effect of an axial temperature gradient on the flow profile and the induced streaming potential of a pressure-driven symmetric electrolyte in a slit channel is investigated. Based on the non-isothermal Nernst–Planck equations, as well as the Poisson equation in the lubrication approximation, expressions for the ion distribution in the electric double layer (EDL) are derived. It is found that thermophoretic ion motion and a temperature-dependent electrophoretic ion mobility increase the local EDL thickness with temperature, whereas a temperature-dependent permittivity shrinks the EDL. Within the Debye–Hückel approximation, the Navier–Stokes equation with the corresponding electric body force terms is solved. Analytical expressions for the flow profile and the induced (streaming) field under non-isothermal conditions are derived. It is shown that for such a situation the induced electric field is the linear superposition of at least seven individual contributions. For very wide channels, only the thermoelectric field typically present in bulk electrolytes when subjected to a temperature gradient (Soret equilibrium) as well as the conventional pressure-induced streaming field are of importance. Counterintuitively, for the latter, while still being affected by the temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity and local salt concentration, the temperature dependencies of the viscosity, Fickian diffusion coefficients and ion electromobilities exactly cancel each other. For narrow channels, five additional contributions become relevant, which – similar to the Soret voltage – do not vanish in the case that the externally applied pressure gradient is removed. The first is caused by selective thermo-electromigration driven by the interplay between the temperature-dependent electrophoretic ion mobility and the interaction of the ions with the surface wall charge. This non-advective effect is at its maximum under extreme confinement. For channels whose widths are of the same order as the EDL thickness, four thermoosmotic effects become significant. Besides the well-known thermoosmosis due to the temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity in the (extended) Korteweg–Helmholtz force, it is demonstrated that – by contrast to isothermal conditions – a thermal gradient renders the ion cloud in the EDL out of mechanical equilibrium. In this context it is shown that a thermophoretic ion motion (i.e. the intrinsic Soret effect of the ions) and a temperature-dependent ion electromobility as well as a temperature-dependent permittivity not only cause an axial gradient of the EDL potential, but simultaneously lead to a pressure of thermal origin, which sets the fluid into an advective motion. Corresponding phenomena were not previously discussed in the literature and may be interpreted as an apparent, thermally induced slip velocity within the EDL. Subsequently, the ion advection affiliated with such thermoosmotic flow may induce a thermoelectric field of a similar order of magnitude to that caused by more conventional thermal effects.


We are developing the Patient Clinical Information System (PatCIS) project at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center to provide patients with access to health information, including their own medical records (permitting them to contribute selected aspects to the record), educational materials and automated decision support. The architecture of the system allows for multiple, independent components which make use of central services for managing security and usage logging functions. The design accommodates a variety of data entry, data display and decision support tools and provides facilities for tracking system usage and questionnaires. The user interface minimizes hypertext-related disorientation and cognitive overload; our success in this regard is the subject of on-going evaluation.


Abstract : The subject of this paper is the analysis of a randomized preprocessing scheme that has been used for query processing in robot motion planning. The attractiveness of the scheme stems from its general applicability to virtually any motion planning problem, and its empirically observed success. In this paper we initiate a theoretical basis for explaining this empirical success. Under a simple assumption about the configuration space, we show that it is possible to perform a preprocessing step following which queries can be answered quickly. En route, we pose and give solutions to related problems on graph connectivity in the evasiveness model, and art gallery theorems.


The aim of the acute oncology service is to provide a systematic approach to dealing with cancer related emergencies in order to optimise the care of patients presenting to hospital potentially suffering from the acute complications of cancer treatment or from emergencies caused by the disease process itself. While for cancer centres this service is perhaps most logically placed within the oncology department, alignment of the service in trusts without oncology services is possibly less clear. The vast majority of these organisations have, however, a specialist palliative care team who have clinical contact with most patients admitted with complications of cancer or its treatment and who are already familiar with managing many of the clinical conditions that fall within the remit of acute oncology. The aim of this pilot project was to establish an acute oncology service model within a teaching district general hospital which has on-site palliative care and haematology services but is not a cancer centre. The service commenced in autumn 2011 and comprised several elements: (1) the acute oncology team chaired by the consultant in palliative medicine as trust acute oncology lead (2) the acute oncology assessment service staffed by palliative care clinical nurse specialists with medical support from oncologists based at the local cancer centre (3) fast track referrals for patients needing rapid access into clinics for diagnostic or review purposes facilitated by the acute oncology administrative support, an extended role for the hospital palliative care team administrative support (4) audit, to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the service (5) education, to train acute medical and nursing staff in the use of the acute oncology service. In conclusion, an acute oncology service can be placed successfully within a specialist palliative care team with cancer expertise in trusts that do not have oncology services which are based on-site.


The purpose of this research is to improve performance of the Hybrid Scene Analysis - Neural Network indoor localization algorithm applied in Real-time Locating System, RTLS. A properly customized structure of Neural Network and training algorithms for specific operating environment will enhance the system's performance in terms of localization accuracy and precision. Due to nonlinearity and model complexity, a heuristic analysis is suitable to evaluate NN performance for different environmental conditions. Efficiency of the proposed customization of a Neural Network is verified by simulations and validated by physical experiments. This research also concerns the influence of size of Neural Network training set. The results prove that, better localization accuracy is with a NN system which is properly customized with respect to a training method, number of neurons and type of transfer function in the hidden layer and also type of transfer function in the output layer.


Over the past five years, libraries have begun to expand their role in the scholarly publishing value chain by offering a greater range of pre-publication and editorial support services. Given the rapid evolution of these services, there is a clear community need for practical guidance concerning the challenges and opportunities facing library-based publishing programs.Recognizing that library publishing services represent one part of a complex ecology of scholarly communication, Purdue University Libraries, in collaboration with the Libraries of Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Utah, secured an IMLS National Leadership Grant under the title "Library Publishing Services: Strategies for Success." The project, conducted between October 2010 and September 2011, seeks to advance the professionalism of library-based publishing by identifying successful library publishing strategies and services, highlighting best practices, and recommending priorities for building capacity.The project has four components: 1) a survey of librarians designed to provide an overview of current practice for library publishing programs (led by consultant October Ivins); 2) a report presenting best practice case studies of the publishing programs at the partner institutions (written by consultant Raym Crow); 3) a series of workshops held at each participating institution to present and discuss the findings of the survey and case studies; and 4) a review of the existing literature on library publishing services. The results of these research threads are pulled together in this project white paper.


This study is designed to investigate the effect of oral contraceptive on thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4), and lipid profile by using 18 Wister albino male rats divided into three groups: group A received normal saline (0.9% NaCl) as a control group. Group B and group C administered contraceptive pills at (0.32 mg/rat/day and 0.64 mg/rat/day) respectively for 60 days .The results showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in level of T3 and a significant increase in level of T4 in B and C groups compared with the control group, while there was non-significant difference inT3 and T4 of group B compared with group C. The results indicated non-significant decrease in cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in both groups B and C, and a significant decrease in level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in group C when compared with the control group, also non-significant different in these parameters between B and C groups.


We introduce generous, even-matched, and greedy strategies EEas concepts for analyzing games. A two person prisoner's dilemma Egame is described by the four outcomes (C,D), (C,C), (D,C), and (D,D). In a generous strategy the proportion of (C,D) is larger than that of (D,C), i.e. the probability of facing a defecting agent is larger than the probability of defecting. An even-matched strategy has the (C,D) proportion approximately equal to that of (D,C). A greedy strategy is an inverted generous strategy. The basis of the partition is that it is a zero-sum game given that the sum of the proportions of strategies (C,D) must equal that of (D,C). In a population simulation, we compare the prisoner's dilemma (PD) game with the chicken game E(CG), given complete as well as partial knowledge of the rules for moves in the other strategies. In a traffic intersection example, we expected a co-operating generous strategy to be successful when the cost for collision was high in addition to the presence of uncertainty. The simulation indeed showed that a generous strategy was successful in the CG part, in which agents faced uncertainty about the outcome. If the resulting zero-sum game is changed from a PD game to a CG, or if the noise level is increased, it will favor generous strategies rather than an even-matched or greedy strategies.


The processing system of Network security event is a typical complicated system depending on the collaborative work of multi-agent system, and how to constructs the collaborative work platform is a common problem. In this paper, we designed collaboration system CPS4NSE with B/S structure to deal with a large number of events which are transacted by a large number of personnel. First of all, the deployment of the system structure and the overall framework are given, and then the design and implementation of the incident input and processing module are expatiated in detail. The method of constructing the platform is a universal and can be transferred to other multi- agent systems to work collaboratively.


This paper introduces techniques to reduce energy storage in off-line light-emitting diode (LED) drivers. Rather than targeting the ideals of unity input power factor (PF) and constant LED current, a topology is selected to minimize the required energy storage with the more practical targets of 0.9 PF and a selectable LED current ripple. The objectives are accomplished using a combination of the following: first, constant-input-current regulation, which results in 0.9 PF and 34% less required energy storage than when using unity power factor, and is achieved with a simple reference signal that does not require input voltage sensing; second, a two-stage approach that isolates the LED from the capacitor to allow full use of the stored energy; third, a bidirectional second stage (LED string is between the two stages) that processes only the necessary energy storage; and fourth, a selectable regulation band on the LED current ripple to pass through the maximum allowed double-line-frequency ripple. The topology is applied to the series-input modular architecture to utilize low-voltage high-frequency circuits and low-profile components in off-line applications. Experimental results are presented for a series-input system with three modules each driving eight LEDs with 30% double-line-frequency current ripple using small filter capacitors.


Close to 1.5 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty, a situation which is particularly stark in the developing world, where 80% of them live. Poor people have little or no access to qualified health services and education, and do not participate in the decisions critical to their day-to-day lives. Poverty cannot be defined solely in terms of lack of income. A person, a family, even a nation is not deemed poor only because of low economic resources. Little or no access to health services, lack of access to safe water and adequate nutrition, illiteracy or low educational level and a distorted perception of rights and needs are also essential components of poverty. There is a two-way link between poverty and health. Illness impairs learning ability and quality of life, has a negative impact on productivity, and drains family savings. Poor people are more exposed to environmental risks (poor sanitation, unhealthy food, violence, and natural disasters) and less prepared to cope with them. Because they are also less informed about the benefits of healthy lifestyles, and have less access to them as well as to quality health care, they are at greater risk of illness and disability. It is a fact of life that those who live in extreme poverty are five times more likely to die before five years of age, and two and a half times more likely to die between 15 and 59 years than those in higher income groups. The same dramatic differences can be found with respect to maternal mortality levels and incidence of preventable diseases. The impact of poverty on health is largely mediated by nutrition and is expressed throughout life. However, nutrition and health are only somewhat responsive to mere economic growth. Those living in poverty and suffering from malnutrition have an increased propensity to a host of diseases, a lower learning capacity, and an increased exposure and vulnerability to environmental risks. Poor children frequently lack stimuli critical to growth and development. Poverty has a woman's face; of the world's 1.3 billion poorest, only 30% are male. Poor women are often caught in a damaging cycle of malnutrition and disease. This plight stems directly from women's place in the home and in society: it often also reflects gender bias in health care. We often find poor women at the back of the waiting line. For 90% of the pregnancies and deliveries in our world, the reality is very different. A young woman in Ethiopia, for example, goes into the reproductive phase of her life with a one-in-ten chance that she will die as a result of pregnancy or delivery. That is not only shocking – it is totally unacceptable. But, there is something else. There were 132 million births in the year 2000, 90% of them took place in developing countries. Maternal, infant and child mortality illustrate the largest gaps between the rich and the poor in today's world. There are between 7 and 8 million perinatal deaths, but we do not know exactly how many are stillbirths and how many are early neonatal deaths. In many cases, births of infants who die soon after birth are neither recorded nor counted. Although exact medical causes in countries may differ, the problem is simple: the common denominator for those deaths is the lack of appropriate and quality services, confounded by poverty. The WHO and UNICEF estimate that 15% of babies weigh -2500 g at birth. In some countries, a full one-third of all babies born are below this weight. Yet, probably only 1/3 of infants are weighed at birth and it is among those births without weight statistics we are likely to find the poorest. Millions of babies died and a sizable fraction of them die from AIDS—shocking data from the 2005 AIDS update. In developing countries, 2062 per thousand die of disease and hunger before the age of five, and most often from neonatal causes, respiratory infection and diarrhea. In 2004, 4.9 million adults and children were newly infected with HIV and 3.1 million adult and child deaths happened in the same year. Fortunately, there is increased use of contraceptives but unfortunately not in Africa, and in about half of the developing countries, access to family planning is poor or very poor. Every year more than 600,000 women die in pregnancy, during child birth, or from unsafe abortions, and 99% of these occur in developing countries. This incidence did not change during the last 10 years. Even more distressing than the absolute number is the fact that the vast majority of these deaths are preventable.


Background: Cambodia has long been known to the Indonesian community and used as traditional medicine to treat various diseases. The usage in current amount could cause toxicity, so it is necessary to do a first screening appropriately if only the toxicity value is acute. The aims of this research is to prove the presence of toxicity potency in ethanol extract of frangipani leaf using BST methods.
Method: Used 250 larvae Artemia salina Leach as test animals. As test materials are frangipani leaves ethanol extract. The observation is on the larvae that died 24 hours after administration of test materials. Based on the data, the LC 50 of ethanol extract of leaves of Plumeria alba determined by probit analysis using SPSS 16.0 for windows.
Result: Mean larvae death in the concentration of 500, 200, 100, 50, and 0 µg/m consecutively were 10, 7.2, 3.6, 1.2, and 0. The result of probit analysis indicated that LC 50 value extract of frangipani leaf was 132.340 μg/ml, whereas the regression analysis results obtained from the LC 50 = 0.9388log concentration – 1.5124
Conclusion: The administering of ethanol extract of frangipani leaf, in this research, had acute toxicity potential against Artemia salina Leach larvae according to BST method. It is indicated by LC 50 value <1000 μg/ml.

Key words: Plumeria alba Linn., brine shrimp lethality test, acute toxicity.


We propose networkmetrics, a new data-driven approach for monitoring, troubleshooting and understanding communication networks using multivariate analysis. Networkmetric models are powerful machine-learning tools to interpret and interact with data collected from a network. In this paper, we illustrate the application of Multivariate Big Data Analysis (MBDA), a recently proposed networkmetric method with application to Big Data sets. We use MBDA for the detection and troubleshooting of network problems in a campus-wide Wi-Fi network. Data includes a seven-year trace (from 2012 to 2018) of the network's most recent activity, with approximately 3,000 distinct access points, 40,000 authenticated users, and 600,000 distinct Wi-Fi stations. This is the longest and largest Wi-Fi trace known to date. To analyze this data, we propose learning and visualization procedures that extend MBDA. These procedures result in a methodology that allows network analysts to identify problems and diagnose and troubleshoot them, optimizing the network performance. In the paper, we go through the entire workflow of the approach, illustrating its application in detail and discussing processing times for parallel hardware.


Abstract Two-, three-, and four-bond 19F-19F spin-spin coupling constants (nJFF) for a set of small fluoro-substituted organic molecules have been computed using ab initio equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) theory. The computed values reproduce the experimental signs and magnitudes of nJFF. The straight line that relates the experimental and computed coupling constants has a slope of approximately 1 and passes through the point (0,0 Hz) within the uncertainties of the fit. Hence, EOM-CCSD values of nJFF should be excellent predictors of experimental values when these are not available. All of the components of nJFF except for the diamagnetic spin-orbit term may be large and must be evaluated if agreement between theory and experiment is to be obtained.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein (α-syn) into intraneuronal inclusions named Lewy bodies (LB). Although it is widely believed that α-syn plays a central role in the pathogenesis of PD and synucleinopathies, the processes that govern α-syn fibrillization and LB formation in the brain remain poorly understood. In this work, we sought to reverse engineer LBs and dissect the spatiotemporal events involved in their biogenesis at the genetic, molecular, biochemical, structural, and cellular levels. Toward this goal, we took advantage of a seeding-based model of α-syn fibril formation in primary neurons and further developed this model to generate the first neuronal model that reproduces the key events leading to LB formation; including seeding, fibrillization, and the formation of LB-like inclusions that recapitulate many of the biochemical, structural, and organizational features of LBs found in post-mortem human PD brain tissues. Next, we applied an integrative approach combining confocal and correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM) imaging methods with biochemical profiling of α-syn species and temporal proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to dissect the molecular events associated with LB formation and maturation and to elucidate their contributions to neuronal dysfunctions and neurodegeneration in PD and synucleinopathies. The results from these studies demonstrate that LB formation involves a complex interplay between α-syn fibrillization, post-translational modifications, and interactions between α-syn aggregates and membranous organelles, including mitochondria and the autophagosome and endolysosome. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the process of LB formation and maturation, rather than simply fibril formation, is the major driver of neurodegeneration through disruption of cellular functions and inducing mitochondria damage and deficits, as well as synaptic dysfunctions. Having a neuronal model that allows for unlinking of the key processes involved in LB formation is crucial for elucidating the molecular and cellular determinants of each process and their contributions to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in PD and synucleinopathies. Such a model is essential to efforts to identify and investigate the mode of action and toxicity of drug candidates targeting α-syn aggregation and LB formation.


Auxotrophic mutants of Bacillus thuringiensis have been isolated and compared with the mutants of Bacillus subtilis. It has been found that after spore formation and a prolonged storage, the considerable part of cells in a population of some strains display a genetically unstable additional requirement for arginine with high frequency. The correlation between tetracycline sensitivity and unstable requirement for arginine and other growth factors has been found. The possible reasons for instability of genetic markers in Bac. thuringiensis are discussed.


The aim of the present study was to complete a systematic investigation of metal-germanium reactions to isolate promising candidates for contacting Ge-based microelectronic devices. Based on their low formation temperature, low resistivity, limited film roughness, sufficient morphological stability, and limited sensitivity to oxidation, NiGe and PdGe were found to be the most promising candidates. These materials are, however, subject to low temperature thermal degradation; therefore, they would probably require stabilization through alloying


Objectives Quantitative assessment of the recovery of regional and global left ventricular systolic function after reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction. Background Left ventricular systolic function is an important predictor of the outcome after acute myocardial infarction. Patients and methods The study included 60 patients with first-time acute myocardial infarction: 30 were treated with fibrinolytic therapy (the pharmacological subgroup) and 30 with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (the invasive subgroup). Evaluation was performed at 1 week and after 30 days by conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, and two-dimensional strain (global longitudinal peak systolic strain). Results About 47% of the study population was considered as having a significant recovery in systolic function by 1 month (60% of the invasive subgroup and 40% of those who had fibrinolysis). Conventional echo parameters showed an insignificant difference from 1 week to 1 month as well as between the two subgroups. There was a significant improvement in the systolic wave by tissue Doppler from 5 ± 4 cm/s at 1 week to 7 ± 3 cm/s at 1 month, and it was higher in the invasive subgroup compared with the pharmacological subgroup (8 ± 2 vs. 5 ± 2 cm/s, P = 0.02). The global longitudinal peak systolic strain showed a significant improvement from −13.5 ± 7% at 1 week to −15 ± 8% at 1 month. It was better in the invasive group than in the pharmacological group at baseline (−15.2 ± 5 vs. −11.9 ± 4%, P = 0.04). At 1 month, the global longitudinal peak systolic strain improved to −12 ± 4 and −16 ± 3% in the pharmacological and the invasive subgroups, respectively (P = 0.04). Conclusion The global longitudinal peak systolic strain and tissue Doppler parameters detected the recovery of left ventricular systolic function after myocardial infarction. Moreover, better recovery was reported in invasive reperfusion than in the pharmacological group.


An implantable prosthesis that stimulates vestibular nerve branches to restore sensation of head rotation and vision-stabilizing reflexes could benefit individuals disabled by bilateral loss of vestibular (inner ear balance) function. We developed a prosthesis that partly restores normal function in animals by delivering pulse frequency modulated (PFM) biphasic current pulses via electrodes implanted in semicircular canals. Because the optimal stimulus encoding strategy is not yet known, we investigated effects of varying biphasic current pulse frequency, amplitude, duration, and interphase gap on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) eye movements in chinchillas. Increasing pulse frequency increased response amplitude while maintaining a relatively constant axis of rotation. Increasing pulse amplitude (range 0-325 μA) also increased response amplitude but spuriously shifted eye movement axis, probably due to current spread beyond the target nerve. Shorter pulse durations (range 28-340 μs) required less charge to elicit a given response amplitude and caused less axis shift than longer durations. Varying interphase gap (range 25-175 μs) had no significant effect. While specific values reported herein depend on microanatomy and electrode location in each case, we conclude that PFM with short duration biphasic pulses should form the foundation for further optimization of stimulus encoding strategies for vestibular prostheses intended to restore sensation of head rotation.


Objective: Antiretroviral treatment in HIV positive pregnant women may cause a variety of morphological changes, with a heterogeneous array of manifestations. HIV protease inhibitors and the reverse transcriptase inhibitor stavudine are more consistently associated with body changes, lipid profile anomalies, risk of lipodystrophy, and increased insulin resistance. This study was to evaluate possible different fetal anthropometric characteristics by ultrasound measurement of fetal fat tissue, according to different therapeutic regimens. Methods: HIV pregnant women referred to our high risk pregnancy centre in the period between 2000 and 2005 were prospectively included in the study. Assessment of fetal fat tissue at abdominal, suprascapular, thigh, and triceps levels was carried out sonographically at 31 and 36 weeks of gestation and, directly, at birth. Results: 121 HIV positive pregnant women were enrolled with different antiretroviral treatments: no therapy in 44 cases, 40 women on nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors only, 22 cases on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and 15 on protease inhibitors. Gestational age at delivery and birth weights were not significantly different between groups. Fetuses of HIV mothers subjected to antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors showed a nearly significant increase of abdominal and suprascapular subcutaneous tissue thickness (p = 0.07 and p = 0.09, respectively) compared to the other groups. Conclusions: A slight association between protease inhibitors and increased fetal fat is suggested by our findings, though they should be interpreted cautiously. Further researches are needed to better define the possible correlation between maternal therapy and fetal biometric modifications.